MDHA offers winter weatherization assistance

With winter looming, the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency is offering many Davidson County residents free weatherization services such as insulation, caulking and weather-stripping.

After serving a record number of homes in 2009-2010, MDHA has received additional funding to extend the Weatherization Assistance Program into 2011, the agency said Thursday.

The program helps low- to moderate-income homeowners and renters, especially elderly and disabled Nashvillians, minimize their energy consumption and expenses. Eligibility for the program is based on established federal income guidelines, and all work is done by licensed contractors.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services administers the weatherization program, which is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. MDHA ended the 2009-2010 program with 1,025 Davidson County homes served, a single-year record for the agency. The typical number of homes weatherized during previous winters was between 100 and 150.

“The weatherization program has been able to help hundreds of Davidson County families improve their homes in the past year,” said Rhonda Sweat, MDHA’s weatherization coordinator. “In addition to reducing clients’ energy consumption, it’s also helped to create more than 100 direct jobs for contractors and energy auditors in Middle Tennessee. Beyond those jobs, there also has been a positive indirect impact on suppliers of home improvement materials used in these projects.”